over on their return down the river.
"One thing is clear, this abominable slave-trade must be put down, and I
believe that we are setting the right way to work to do it. First make
it unprofitable and very dangerous, and then show the natives the
advantages of civilisation and commerce." When the boat reached the
mouth of the river, the frigate was nowhere to be seen. "Then, Paddy,"
exclaimed Jack, clutching his rifle, "let us have a cruise on our own
hook. You remember the prize you took among the Ionian Islands, old
fellow?" How merrily they laughed at the recollection of that early
freak of theirs. Paddy, of course, was delighted to join in any scheme
of Jack's. They could not tell in which direction the frigate had gone.
They, at a hazard, steered to the southward. They had a good supply of
provisions in the boat, and King Bom-Bom had given them still more. All
that day they looked out anxiously for a sail, but sighted none. The
greater part of the next passed much in the same manner. They were
growing impatient. It is not pleasant to have to sit cramped up in a
small boat under a burning sun off the coast of Africa with nothing to
do.

At last the sea-breeze set in, and soon afterwards Paddy jumped up and,
in his delight, almost toppled overboard, exclaiming, "A sail! a sail!"
As the stranger approached, Jack made her out to be a long, low, black
brig; he ordered the boat's sail to be lowered, and the people to lie
down in the bottom of the boat, and to cover themselves up with the
sail.

They both thought that the approaching brig was a slaver, but to make
more sure they called Wasser to them. He crept along under the sail,
and put his eyes up over the gunwale: "Yes, big slaver, no doubt," he
observed; "but no get slavie in yet."

"Then we'll follow and board her," cried Jack. "If she won't heave-to,
we'll make her."

This seemed rather a vaunting boast for two midshipmen and six men in a
small boat to make, but Jack was perfectly in earnest about the matter.
The men had their oars all ready to ship at a moment's notice. The brig
stood on till she was within about 400 yards of the boat, and Jack, who
was watching her from under the sail, thought that he should have to get
out of her way to prevent being run down. Suddenly she changed her
course, and hauled more off the land. Perhaps her people suspected a
_ruse_. In an instant, as Jack gave the order, up sprang his men, out
went their oars,